Golf club



L. D. BROOKS Nov. 22, 1927.

GOLF CLUB Filed July 21. 1926 lNVE/VTOE ZED/V 876M di HIS A TTOE/YEK Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES LEON D. BROOKS, OF UPPER LAKE, CALIFORNIA.

GOLF CLUB.

Application filed July 21,

My invention relates to golf clubs and particularly to a golf club havlng interchangeable heads and an adjustable grip or handle.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a golf club having a demountable head, so that differentheads may be used with the same shaft.

Another object of the invent1on 18 to provide a golf club in which the effective length of the shaft is adjustable to correspond with the character of the head.

My invention possesses other ob ects and features of advantage, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of my invention which 1s illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It 153 to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said description and drawings, as I may adopt varying forms of my invention within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a golf club embodying my invention, portions of the structure being broken away better to disclose the parts and to reduce the length of the figure.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional v1ew, the plane of section being indicated by the line 2-'2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a View of the grip end of the club, partly in section. The direction from which the View is taken is indicated by the arrow 4: in Figure 1.

In broadly descriptive terms, my invention comprises a golf stick or club having a plurality of demountable interchangeable heads, with means for quickly changing from one head to another. Since the character of the head on a golf club and the height of the player determines the length of the shaft, my invention also includes an adjustable grip or handle, so that the effective length of the club shaft may also be adjusted, first, in accordance with the physical characteristics of the player, and sec 0nd, in accordance with the character of the club head. Since it is usual for a given set of golf clubs to be used by but one individual, the first of these adjustments is a fixed one, and is made when the clubs are 1926. Serial No. 123,854.

bought. The second adjustment, that is, the positioning of the handle in accordance with the character of the club head, is made possible by readily operated means which fpermits the change quickly and without e ort. Means are also provided for preventing relative rotary movement between the shaft proper and the head or handle; and the entire construction is such as to conform substantially to the proportions, weight and appearance of the clubs approved by the best players; and-in spite of the added mechanism there is nothing to affect the freedom of swing by the player, or to impede his stroke.

More particularly, my device comprises a shaft 2, preferably of well seasoned wood suitable for the purpose, and provided at one end with a tapered ferrule 3, fixedly secured to the shaft in any suitable manner and formed with an annular flange 4, over which the knurled sleeve 6 extends. sleeve is provided with an inwardly extending flange 7, adapted to turn within the groove formed between the flange 4 and a narrow collar 8 threaded on to the end of the ferrule and preferably brazed in place. The sleeve thus is adapted to rotate on the ferrule but is prevented from moving axially thereon. I

The tapered ferrule 3 is adapted to seat in a socket 9, of complementary shape formed within the neck 11 of the head 12. The heads include iron, putter, cleek, mashie, and various other shapes, but the necks of all of the heads are of course identical so as to preserve the interchangeability of the heads on the shaft. Slots 13 are formed in the neck to give the walls of the socket some degree of resiliency: and threads 14 are formed on the end of the neck and adapted to be engaged by similar threads on the inside of the knurled sleeve, so that rotation of the sleeve in one direction seats the head securely on the shaft and rotation in the The that the bead 18 extends into the wood of the shaft 2, and thus prevents these parts from relative rotary movement.

From the above it will be clear that during play the desired club head may be quickly substituted on the shaft bythe player in accordance with the requirements of the shot to be attempted; and that because of the design and arrangement of the fastening means, the characteristics of the club as a whole are not altered in any way sufficient to interfere in the least degree with its acoustomed use.

Adjustably secured to the other end of the shaft by any suitable means such as a screw 21, is a tubular extension 22, also provided with an inwardly extending head 23, seated in the shaft and preventing relative rotary movement between the two. Since clubs are usually fitted to the individual player, it is contemplated that the position of the tubular extension 22 on the shaft 2, will be determined hy the physical characteristics of the player at the time the club is acquired and that such position will not be disturbed. Telescopically mounted on the tubular extension is the handle or grip 24, having an inwardly extending bead 26 engaging the groove formed by the head 23, so as to prevent turning of the grip relative to the shaft.

The inner end of the grip is tapered and.

provided with threads 27 adapted to be engaged by the threaded tapered interior of'the the knurled sleeve 28. The slots 29 are formed in the end of the grip to permit slight flexibility thereof, and movement of the sleeve 28 therefore tightens the end of the grip upon the tubular extension or releases it therefrom as the case may be. The end of the handle or grip is preferably filled with a plug 31 as a finish and to prevent the ingress of foreign material.

Since the length of the shaft, or rather the position of the grip on the shaft is determined as to each player by the character of the club head, I provide means for co-ordinating these two factors. On each head is an identifying mark or symbol such as a number 32. and on the tubular extension appears a plurality of marks 33, each identified by a similar symbol. l/Vith a given head on the shaft, it is merely necessary for the player to note the symbol thereon, and then set the grip to the line on the extension having the same symbol, to ensure a proper length of shaft for the particular head. Two heads requiring the same length of shaft would of course both have the same symbol.

I have thus provided with a single shaft and grip, a plurality of interchangeable heads for meeting any situation Which can arise during the game; and because the outfit I have provided is much lighter in weight and much less bulky than an equivalent collection of clubs each complete in itself, it is possible to have readily available a full assortment of clubs for every play.

I claim:

1. A golf club comprising a shaft, a head having a socket in which the shaft is adapted to be seated, and means movable in one direction to seat the shaft in said socket and movable in the other direction to unseat the shaft from said socket.

A golf club comprising a shaft, a head demountably fixed to the shaft, an index on said head, a handle telescopically adjustable on said shaft, and an index on the shaft corresponding to the head index for guiding the setting of the handle to a position dictated by the head.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

LEON D. BROOKS. 

